Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1) in Q&A with Cassandra Clare

Sep 27, 2009 Jaime West rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, fantasy, young-adult, faeries

The Infernal Devices..Book 1 -Set in the Shadowhunter world in 1878 in London. Awesome!
A whole new set of Characters; Tessa, Will, Jem/James, Sophie, Jessamine, Charlotte and Henry..
Cassandra Clare did a great job with her research (not that I would be able to correct her) of London and it's architectural history.
I found this book to gather momentum much faster than City of Bones, there was more grit to this story and a great new plot. Cassandra has a wonderful imagination for her stories.

If an The Infernal Devices..Book 1 -Set in the Shadowhunter world in 1878 in London. Awesome!
A whole new set of Characters; Tessa, Will, Jem/James, Sophie, Jessamine, Charlotte and Henry..
Cassandra Clare did a great job with her research (not that I would be able to correct her) of London and it's architectural history.
I found this book to gather momentum much faster than City of Bones, there was more grit to this story and a great new plot. Cassandra has a wonderful imagination for her stories.

If anyone is dumb enough to complain or criticise that one character seems very much like someone from the Mortal Instruments series, well I have this to say to you 'dah' and that I am tempted to smack you up side the head with my hardback copy.. Cassandra is very open about this and announces it, don't make a fool of yourself, just re-read Mortal Instruments.

Tessa made me quite sad, in fact this first book has allot of sadness in it, more than I really expected. Tessa comes from New York to live with her brother. But when she arrives, her brother is missing. This is where she ends up entangled in the world of the Shadow. Meeting Charlotte, Will, Jem, and Jess..
Will with black hair and dark blue eyes, Jem with silver blonde hair and grey eyes, I wouldn't know where to oogle..

It seems more like an Orphanage than an Institute in this book, and the drama is dripping off the pages. I love the drama, especially when it’s woven into the couples dynamic, that’s why I am a romance whore. Drama is the chewy stuff in a book, the glue that keeps it all together, makes you come back for more. Makes you squeeze your book and say 'I just want to know what happens!' or 'Geez, would you just kiss, already!' If Cassandra excels in anything, it's this; drama and twisted love.. She makes you grit your teeth, trying to feel for both sides of the spectrum, as hard as that is! Trying to make excuses for peoples behaviour because they are dying inside, but you don't know it, you have to notice the subtle nuances that person displays. There are times that I didn’t understand some peoples behaviour but I think that will become clearer as the story progresses.

I am amazed at how much work goes into all her characters, in her books. When I read her books I know that Cassandra knows everything about every characters, major or minor. She never has someone purely for cannon fodder or someone that just looks pretty, or has funny one liners. They all have a purpose and are intertwined into the story. No wastage!
This however means you must be paying attention at all times, or you will miss something!

I had very high expectations going into this book, as I wait with baited breath for City of Fallen Angels, and I was not disappointed. It proves that Cassandra has created herself a world that is limitless, well, as limitless as her imagination is.. Ms Clare you’re a God and I wish to worship your keyboard, and all things it creates!! Bring on the Graphic Novel!
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Sep 24, 2009 Elyzia rated it it was amazing

I am such a HUGE fan of the Mortal Instruments, one of the best series I have read, in YA. I love the way Clare writes. When this book was being released I was a bit hesitant to read it. I was a little uneasy about the time setting of the book, I thought that it was going to be a prequel that could never compare to the Mortal Instruments. I hold Mortal Instruments very high, and there have been maybe one or two YA series that have compared to that series. So when I started Clockwork Angel, I exp I am such a HUGE fan of the Mortal Instruments, one of the best series I have read, in YA. I love the way Clare writes. When this book was being released I was a bit hesitant to read it. I was a little uneasy about the time setting of the book, I thought that it was going to be a prequel that could never compare to the Mortal Instruments. I hold Mortal Instruments very high, and there have been maybe one or two YA series that have compared to that series. So when I started Clockwork Angel, I expected to be disappointed. Boy did Ms. Clare prove me WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!
I absolutely loved this book, I am very anxious to read the rest of the series, and it is going to be a long wait until the next one comes out.
It was great to see some familiar names of characters that I truly enjoyed in MI.
Also, there are some very strong similarities between Jace ( Mortal Instruments) and Will. Will is a very strong character, with many levels to his personality. He is carefree, reckless, loyal, secretive and at times cruel. But he has a way of crawling into your heart and staking a claim to it. He is hiding a major secret, that I am sure will take a book or two to unveil. his emotions are kept in check, and he wants to let go, but he always holds back. I am anxious to learn more of the very interesting, very beautiful Will.
Then we meet Jem. What an awesome character. He is strong, but has a condition that makes him even more loving to the reader. He is a fierce fighter, but a true gentleman. Smart beyond his years, offers sound advice, and you can tell that he wants happiness.
Tessa...she is strong, determined, a bit naive at the beginning, but develops into a powerful female. She lets her heart lead her and she desperately wants things to be normal. Great leading character. She too has some similarities to the MI character, Clary.
The rest of the characters in this book are all remember-able. None of them fall off to the side, they all play an important part, and keep you wondering to the end who is who. I think there are some more surprises in store for this series.
The action was remarkable. Like I said I was a little tentative about the setting and era of the book, but I found myself falling right into it, and not thinking about it being so long ago, in another country and time. The language was easy to go with, you know it's great writing when you start reading in a British accent!!!
I really feel that this one is going to be a great series. If you have not read Mortal Instruments yet, you can still read this series. I think either way you read them, starting with this one, or reading Mortal Instruments first, you will love it.
Cassandra Clare can tell a story like no other. She is intelligent, witty, and demands your attention in her novels. She kept my interest all the way to the end, and I am dying to read the next one. I don't know if I will be able to stand not knowing what is going to happen next. A lot of loose ends in this one, but a lot of questions were answered too. Relationships seem like they may start, but not entirely sure with who. It is not your expected love triangle that so many authors are using.
I absolutely recommend this book!!!!!!!!!!!
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Dec 24, 2009 Sophie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, signed

Clockwork Angel is a spectacular example of YA urban fantasy. Cassandra Clare really is a genius.

The Mortal Instruments is one of my favourite series’ because of the extraordinary world that has been built for the Shadowhunters. Well, I love Jace too, but that’s a post for another day. Back to the world: it has roots in history of the biggest cities from all over the world and spanning centuries. Having read The Mortal Instruments I was able to identify the predecessors of very important charac ...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Megan (magan bagan) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, steampunk

Let me first admit that when I heard about The Infernal Devices series, I was somewhat skeptical about the whole thing and wasn’t really sure if I was going to want to read it. With that out of the way, I have never been so glad to be wrong before. Cassandra Clare out did herself with this one and it’s only the first in a series of three!

Not only was the story line wonderfully written and engaging, but the characters were just as intriguing as our beloved Clary and Jace from The Mortal Instrumen Let me first admit that when I heard about The Infernal Devices series, I was somewhat skeptical about the whole thing and wasn’t really sure if I was going to want to read it. With that out of the way, I have never been so glad to be wrong before. Cassandra Clare out did herself with this one and it’s only the first in a series of three!

Not only was the story line wonderfully written and engaging, but the characters were just as intriguing as our beloved Clary and Jace from The Mortal Instruments series.

Set in 19th century London, we meet Tessa Gray. She’s a typically well brought up young lady who is thrust into a world that she never believed existed and never would have imagined that she was a part of, the Shadow World. With her brother’s life on the line, Tessa is forced into learning she has the unique and rather rare ability to change forms into anyone, alive or dead, a power that many want to exploit for their own uses.

With the help of Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs, two Shadowhunters that live at the London Institute, Tessa goes on a dangerous mission to locate her brother, uncovering even more secrets that may have been better left unsaid.

Each of the new characters we are introduced to bring something important to the story, including some of the familiar family names from TMI (Lightwoods, Waylands, and Magnus Bane). And, while I love the three main characters very much, I found that the two of the minor roles I wanted to learn more about were Henry and Charlotte, the couple that ran the Institute. With only a little mentioned about their relationship, I found myself asking more questions about their background than most of the other minor characters.

“She longed to reach out and stroke his face, push his hair back and reassure him. But she held herself back. She knew- she had been advised enough times- not force on Henry affection he probably didn’t want.” (CA pg 122) That statement alone was enough to pique my interest and drive me crazy to find out more.

And even though it might sound clichéd, Will was my other favorite character. Now, don’t get me wrong, Tessa was amazing and fascinating in her own right and I’m routing for her no matter what, but Will is much more of an enigma than the others. He’s witty and sarcastic, playful and spontaneous. To me he is like an artichoke, we have to keep peeling back layers until we get to the heart, and Clare hasn’t shown us all of what he’s about just yet.

“But there was nothing to say. There was only emptiness, as there had been before her. As there always would be.” (CA pg 451) Another sentence designed to make the readers even more curious about the fascinating William Herondale.

Cassandra Clare managed to win my heart again with this wonderful start to her prequel series and I am already twitching my thumbs in anticipation for the next two. I would also like to thank the lovely ladies of whatchYAreadin for hosting the Clockwork Angel contest and giving me the opportunity to read it early. You ladies are awesome and I hope that everyone enjoys the first book of the Infernal Devices series as much as I did.
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Mar 06, 2010 Just Me rated it really liked it

**Slight spoilers**

Overall, this book was just as well-composed and thought out as Miss Clare's previous series (which I simply love! I can't wait for the rumored next installment). However, I felt that the
"romance" that almost spontaneously occurs between both Will AND Jem wasn't real enough. She only just meets both of them, and suddenly she has to make a choice between mysterious and safe or wild and dangerous. In my opinion her relationship with the two boys should have been better develop ...more

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Apr 11, 2010 Heather rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult

Yet another excellent book by Clare. I really liked it. The only drawbacks I felt, were times where the romance between some of the characters seemed a bit forced and that I kept trying to recall if these characters were mentioned in the Mortal Instruments series(since The Infernal Devices series takes place over a hundred years earlier in the same timeline/world). This seemed a lot darker than her earlier triology and I was suprised at the carnage/body count. However, I greatly enjoyed this boo ...more

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Jan 27, 2010 Daydreemer5696 rated it it was amazing

I adore this book! The Mortal Instruments left me very excited for another of Clare's books and I've been waiting now for over a year. The plot is completely captivating, allowing you to think of nothing else. My biggest dilemas now are one: I have to wait until March to read City of Fallen Angels, and two: deciding witch Heronalde boy I prefer more, Jace or Will! I'm very excited for another book. Clare's writting is enthralling! ...more

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Dec 09, 2009 Margaret rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own

Amazing novel, it is sad you can't help but compare this story to City of Glass, there are some similarities without giving too much of the story away. But it has a massive cliff hanger ending and now I have to wait seems to be forever to find out what happens in the next book. so not so happy about that but I love the character interaction style that Cassandra Clare uses there is always such humour and heart. ...more

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Oct 28, 2009 Alexandra Hutton rated it really liked it

Cassandra clare brought us into her world yet again in another fantastic novel about the romance and the deception and left us with a cliff hanger. though i find will and jace alike i hope that cassandra will seperate the two so that you can see the difference other than the cruelty that will has shown tessa. Other than that i give this book a good reveiw and recommend it.

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Oct 19, 2009 Zainab rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal, ya, romance, werewooooolves, fantasy, re-read, i-own, historical-fic, favorites, vamps

4.5, but had to round it up I guess :)

Cassandra Clare, you have done it again. Sucked me into this amazingly vivid novel, with old and new characters <3
You have left me lusting after the next book in the series. Soon please :D

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Sep 28, 2009 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: fave-authors, angels, magic, faerie, daemons

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, can't wait for the next one :)

Second review

I love this book. It's even better the second time reading it. ...more

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